Moldova's Constitutional Court has ruled that former Prime Minister Vlad Filat cannot serve as prime minister because his government lost a no-confidence vote in parliament in March.

On April 10, President Nicolae Timofti nominated Filat to be the next prime minister and asked him to form a new cabinet.

The court ruled late on April 22 that because Filat was dismissed because of corruption suspicions, Timofti must choose another candidate.

A spokesman for Timofti called the ruling "a constitutional disaster."

Filat, who is caretaker prime minister, faced a deadline of April 25 for submitting his new government.

Following the court ruling, it seems increasingly likely that parliament will be dissolved and new elections called because the 31 deputies of Filat's Liberal Democratic party have said they will only support Filat.